Dead-man circuit control unit for train transformers



Dec. 1, 1953 w. R. HAURY 2,661,461

DEAD-MAN CIRCUIT CONTROL UNIT FOR TRAIN TRANSFORMERS Filed May 23, 19512 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Dec. l, 1953 w. R. HAURY 2,661,461

DEAD-MAN C'IRCUIT CONTROL UNIT FOR TRAIN TRANSFORMERS Filed May 2s, 19512 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 DEAD-MAN CIRCUIT CONTROLUNIT FO TRAIN TRANSFORMERS William R. Haury, Hamden, Conn., assignor toThe A. C. Gilbert Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Maryland IApplication May 23, 1951, Serial No. 227,897

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to toy electric railroad equipment andparticularly to track-side accessories in the nature of a manuallyoperated remote control unit for toy trains.

The appeal of toy railroading to the young mind is influenced bytimeliness, that is to say, by the ability of the toy to imitaterealistically those characteristics of real railroading which are newand different. In present day railroading the advent of the dieselengine has been of popular interest. Diesel engines have lent impetus tonew and different styling of locomotive exteriors. This change ofstyling has extended to relatively minor units of locomotive equipmentsuch as the throttle control unit handled by the engineer to start, stopand govern the speed of travel of the train.

A characteristic of the modern engineers throttle which has dramaticsignificance for the young boys mind is that popular known as dead mancontrol. This is a safety guard against human failure which, in theabsence of purposeful pressure by the hand of the operator applied tothe throttle control handle, will act automatcally to `bring the trainto `a stop.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a handle operated,remote control unit for controlling the running of toy electric trainswhich incorporates the dead man function, i. e. to stop the running ofthe toy train automatically whenver the control handle is released bythe hand of the operator.

A further object is to provide auxiliary means for `conditioning thedead man control handle so that when desired it will not actautomatically as aforesaid.

Another object is to enable such control unit. by use of the singlecontrol handle thereon, not only to govern the starting and stopping ofthe toy train, but also to vary the speed of running thereof as desired.

A contributory object is to enable starting and stopping of running ofthe train to be accomplished whenever desired by mere up and down manualshifting of the single 1control handle, while the speed of running ofthe train can be varied as -desired by side to side adjustive swingingof the same control handle.

A still further object of the invention is to incorporate in a throttletype of control unit having all of the aforementioned train controllingabilities, structure embodying la shape, proportion and workingrelationship of parts recognizably similar to comparable parts in theycontroller of a real diesel locomotive.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become clear ingreater particular from the following description of a successfulembodiment thereof having reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a diesel type of control unit embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken partly in section on the plane 2-2 in Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a part of Fig. 1 showing the turret headbroken away to expose underlying mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the plane 4-4 in Fig. 3looking in the direction of the arrows with control handle omitted.

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the controlhandle in a different position.

Fig. 6 is a'fragmen'tary view taken in section on the plane 6 6 in Fig.'5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

i Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe adjustable transformer taken in section onthe plane 'I-'I in Fig-5.

Fig. 8 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows from the plane 88 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in section on the planes9-9 in Fig. 5 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

y Fig. 10 is a diagram of circuit connections Within the control unit.

, Theframework of the control unit is designated I2 'andincludes the topWall of a hollow box-like structure which has 'an inclined portion I3servingas an'instrumentpanel. A shallow well I4 in the nature of acircular depression in the top of the box structure has a floor wall I5.Central of well HI there is a vertical bearing I'I somewhat elevatedabove floor wall I5 which guides a plunger shaft I8 and permits rotaryand sliding movement thereof. Plunger shaft I8 forms vpart of amechanism which operatively couples a manual control handle I9 with acurrent take-off conductive wheel 20. The latter rides in an arcuatepath across a contactable series of current taps 23 accorded by baringthe conductive coils of otherwise insulated transformer secondary wires.The transformer core 2.4 which carries the transformer windings isstationed on the framework byposts 25 within the control box.

Take-off wheel 20 is rotatably carried at the end of resilient sweep arm26 in a manner to roll freely along the arcuate path 23 about thestationary arm pivot 21 that is fixed on and insulated from thetransformer core by means of a bar 33 of insulating material. Sweep arm26 is a thin leaf that normally springs upward into the position shownin Fig. 2 so that take-off wheel 20 tends to be lifted thereby out ofcontact with the current taps 23 at all points in its arcuate path ofswinging movement 23. The outboard or tail end of sweep arm 26 is inpermanent elec trical connection with a flexible take-off lead 3I whicheasily trails movements of the sweep arm.

The various movements of sweep arm 26 are brought about by asuperimposed resilient leaf type of actuating arm 32. This arm iscarried fixedly on the fiatted lower end of plunger shaft I8 by means ofa hub 34 having a hole correspondingly flatted to tightly fit the shaft.Hub 34 is removably retained on shaft I9 vby a split washer 41.Actuating arm 32 is provided with turned down anges 33 spaced widelyenough apart to flank the edges of sweep arm 26 loosely so Y"that bindpreventing, free relative sliding movement between the sweep arm and itsactuating arm is permitted between flanges 33 and arm 26. Sweep arm 25,however, must follow the swinging movement of the actuating arm 22 atall times and is capable of being depressed, by the superior flexureresisting strength of latter, against its own resilient liftingtendency. Thus sweep arm 26 can be forced downward by actuating arm 32into the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the take-off wheel 20 which Iprefer to make of carbon rolls across and contacts successively andconductively with the current taps` or bared surfaces 23 of thetransformer secondary coils in swinging between its extreme positionsshown in broken lines in Figs. 7 and 10.

Fig. further shows a broken line position of the control handle I9wherein the plunger shaft I9, even though permitted to rise to asomewhat higher position than in Fig. 5, is still so positioned that theactuating arm 32 bears downward on sweep arm 26 and maintains conductivecontact of take-off wheel with the series of current taps 23. Whenreleased by the operators hand, handle I9 normally will be maintained ina higher position than its broken line position in Fig. 5. namely, inits full line position in Fig. 6, by the axial expanding tendency of aspring coil 36 seated on the floor wall I5 of well I4 and surroundingplunger shaft I8. Natural weight of the operators hand on handle I9depresses the latter to its broken line position. Spring 36 in thehollow 38 of turret head 40 constantly presses upward against a thrustwasher 31 fixed on plunger shaft I8 by a split retaining ring, but issufficiently weak to yield to the aforesaid weight of the operatorshand.

Turret head 40 is a rotary body of insulating material molded in theshape of an inverted cup from any suitable plastic ins'ulative material.In effect it serves as a hub for the control handle I 9 enabling thelatter to be swung from side to side because of the freedom of turrethead 40 to swivel with rotary nt on the stationary bearing I1. Handle I9occupies a diametrical channel 2I in the turret head which latter isheld down in well I4 by depending lugs 39 containing threaded holes toreceive retaining screws 4I. Lugs 39 extend with sliding nt througharcuate slots 42, respectively, in the floor wall I5 of well I 4. Plainthrust washers 43 and an axially expansive spring friction washer 29therebetween are carried between the oor wall I5 and the heads of screws4I.

i Removal of screws 4I permits turret head 40 to be removed from thecontrol box.

Turret head 40 causes plunger shaft I8 to turn in, unison with itbecause of the snug but slidable nt on the natted top end of the latterof a correspondingly shaped hole in the turret head. The extreme upperend of plunger shaft I8 underlies a flat 48 provided on the otherwiseround shank 43 of the control handle I9 and is depressible by downwardswinging movement of control handle about a hinge pin 44 lodged in theturret head and under which pin the spur end 45 of handle shank 49 ispivotally fulcrumed. This fulcrum construction is such that if shank 49is manually lifted to a more upright position than shown in full linesin Fig. 2,. its fulcrum notch may be disengaged from hinge pin 44 andthe entire control handle can thus be removed from the turret headwithout the use of tools and taken away from the control unit by theoperator to prevent unauthorized tampering with the control.

Turret head 49 carries externally a radially projecting spur 50 servingboth as a stop and as an index pointer, cooperating in its indicatingfunction with a scale 5I of suitably marked graduations on the frameworkdesignating makebelieve speed of the train in miles per hour andcooperating in its function as a movement limiting stop with studs 52placed at each end of the scale of graduations. l

In the instrument panel I3 of the box-like framework there are mountedthe dials of two instruments, such as a volt meter 53 and an ammeter 54,together with the operating handle 55 of a toggle snap switch. Alsovisible at the exterior of the control box are the electric bulbs of ared signal lamp 51 and a green signal lamp 58 serving purposes that willappear from the following description of operation.

In Fig. l0 there is diagrammed one system of electric circuits insidethe control unit which may incorporate, in addition to the parts alreadyherein described, a primary winding 59 on the transformer and a splitsecondary winding stemming from the ammeter 54. One branch 56 of thesecondary continues directly to a 15 volt binding post 60 of the controlunit through the line wire 60 while the other branch of the secondaryhas a portion bared to provide the current taps 23. The opposite ends ofthis bared portion connect respectively to an insulated high voltageterminal plate 6I and to an insulated low voltage terminal plate 62.Take-off wheel 20 sweeps from one to the other of these plates in an arcwhile rolling over and in contact with the current taps 23. Thepotential derived by the take-off at terminal plate 62 may be somechosen voltage preferably lower than will supply train impelling currentto the track of a toy electric railroad while the potential derived bythe takeoiT at terminal plate 6I may be some chosen higher voltagepreferably capable of running the train at highest desired speed. Thecurrent lead 3| which trails the sweep arm 26 is connected directly toan intermediate binding post 63 of the control unit while the ammeter 54connects to the base or no-voltage binding post 64 of the control unitthrough the automatic overload protector or circuit breaker 65. Thevoltage attainable across the binding posts 63, 64 is selectivelyvariable by swinging the sweep arm 26. The red signal lamp 51 isconnected in shunt rela-v tion to this circuit breaker.

In operation, when handle I9 is partially ele-4v and 5, the take-offwheel rides on the current taps 23. By swinging handle I9counterclockwise from its position shown in Fig. l, current at maximumvolts delivered to the binding post B3 is reduced to less voltage forslowing down the train. The decrease in voltage will continue to a pointincapable of running the train after a quarter turn of the handle to itsbroken line position shown in Fig. l. Here the take-off wheel 21D willcome to rest on the terminal plate 62. the train can be stopped at anytime by permitting handle I8 to swing up to full line position in Fig.2. This occurs automatically as a mere result of releasing the handlefrom the weight of the operators hand. Spring 3e then lifts the handleand retracts the actuator 32 upwardly permitting sweep arm to fiexupward and lift wheel 20 from engagement with any of the current taps23. Binding post however is constantly left alive despite the positionof take-off wheel 20.

As long as the circuit breaker remains closed it serves to short circuitthe red signal lamp 5l.

The latter therefore remains unlighted normally. The green signal light58, however, is constantly across the line running to binding posts 60and 64, respectively, and normally is lighted to indicate that thebinding post 60 is alive' Upon occurrence of an overload and consequentbreaking of the circuit by the protective circuit breaker 65, the redsignal light 51 will glow to indicate trouble until the circuit breakeragain closes.

There being possible within the scope of this invention many variationsof the exact structures and correlation of parts herein disclosed toillustrate a successful embodiment, the appended claims are directed toand intended to cover all equivalents which fall wtihin the broadestfair interpretation 0f their terms.

I claim: Y

l. A handle operated voltage controller automatically operative to breakthe circuit 0f its transmitted electric current upon manual release ofits voltage controlling handle, comprising in combination with saidhandle and circuit, a

series of successively contactable separately insulated current taps insaid circuit, unitary framework carrying said taps, mechanism mountingsaid handle movably on said framework so as to permit said handle to beswung selectively up and down and from side to side, a current takeoifmovable in a voltage varying direction to sweep across said taps incontactable relation therewith, and mechanism operatively coupling saidhandle and said take-off in a manner to convert side-to-side motion ofsaid handle into movement of said take-off in said voltage varyingdirection and in a manner to convert up and down motion of said handleinto movement of said take-off in directions to leave and return intocontactable relation to said series of taps.

2. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim l, in whichthe said mechanism includes a plunger shaft rotatably and slidablyguided in the said framework in operable relation to the said handle.

3. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim l, in whichthe said mechanism includes a turret head mounted to swivel in relationto the said framework, and a plunger shaft coupled in fixed rotativerelation to said turret head and longitudinally slidable relativelythereto, said turret head carrying said handle in operative relation tosaid plunger shaft.

4. A handle operated voltage controller as de- 6 fined in claim l, inwhich the said mechanism includes a turret head mounted to swivel abouta vertical axis in relation tothe said framework and carrying the saidhandle mounted thereon in a manner to be swingable upward and downwardabout a horizontal axis fixed in relation to said turret head andswingable from side toside in unison therewith.

5. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim 1, togetherwith a detent positioned to receive and releasably retain the saidhandle at one extremity of its up and down movement.

6. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim l, in whichthe said handle includes an elongate arm, together with a spring clipstationed to receive and releasably retain the said handle when swungdownward to its lowestV position.

7. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim 1, in whichthe said current takeoff includes an elongate conductive leaf springpivotally mounted on the said framework in such position that one endthereof sweeps crosswise the said current taps.

8. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim 1, in whichthe said current takeoff includes a spring leaf lever pivotally mountedon the said framework having one of its ends disposed to sweep crosswisethe said current taps and its other end conductively connected to andtrailed by a flexible current lead.

9. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim 1, in whichthe said take-off inf cludes a conductive flexible leaf spring pivotallymounted to sweep across said current taps and normally biased toseparate from all of said taps, and the said mechanism includes anactuating arm swingably coupled to said leaf spring, and a plunger shaftcarrying said arm movably mounted on the said framework in a manner tobe slidable in unison with said arm in directions toward and away fromsaid leaf spring and to be rotatable in unison with said arm indirections causiong said leaf spring to sweep across said current aps.

10. A handle operated voltage controller as dened in claim 1, in whichthe said mechanism includes a turret head mounted to swivel in relationto the said framework and carrying the said handle pivotally mountedthereon.

11. A handle operated voltage controller as defined in claim 10,together with a detent stationed on the said turret head in a manner toreceive and releasably retain the said handle at one extremity of its upand down movement.

12. A handle operated voltage controller automatically operative tobreak the circuit of its transmitted electric current upon manualrelease of its voltage controlling handle, comprising in combinationwith said handle and circuit, a series of successively contactablecurrent taps in said circuit, unitary framework carrying said taps,mechanism mounting said handle movably on said framework so as to permitsaid handle to be swung selectively up and down and from side to side, acurrent take-off movable in a voltage varying direction to sweep acrosssaid taps in contactable relation therewith, and mechanism operativelycoupling said handle and said take-off in a manner to convertside-to-side motion of said handle into movement of said take-off insaid voltage varying direction and in a manner to convert up and downmotion o-f said handle into movement of said take-off in directions toleave and return.intocontactable relation to said series of taps, saidmechanism including a' disconnectable coupling between said handle andsaid take-oil pivotally anchoring said handle in a manner permittingwithout the use of tools the removal of said handle from the controlunit for preventing unauthorized tampering with the control.

13. A dead-man circuit control unit for toy railroads, comprising incombination, a Variable voltage transformer, a case housing' saidtransformer, binding posts on said case, a secondary winding on saidVvtransformer, a voltage. varying takeoiic movable in. conductiverelation to said winding connected, to, furnish relatively low Voltageand, relatively high voltage to two of said binding posts respectively,a dead-man handle operatively related to said current take-oilcomprising an arm movably mounted on said case, and a single handleconnected to swing said arm horizontally for varying said talce-oilvoltage and to swing said arm vertically for displacing said take-onfrom conductive relation to said secondary winding. l l

14. A dead-man circuit control unit for toy railroads, comprising incombination, a variable voltage transformer, a case housing said trans--former, binding pests on said case, a secondaryr winding on saidtransformer, a voltage varying take-oil movable in conductive relationto said winding connected to furnish relatively low voltage andrelatively high voltage to two of said binding posts respectively, adead-man handle operatively related to said current take-ofi comprisingan arm movably mounted on said. case to be swingable horizontally forvarying said takemf voltage and to be swingable upward for displacingsaid take-oil from conductive relation to said secondary Winding, aspring constantly urging said arm upward, and a detent in the path ofdownward swinging movement of said arm operative to catch and releasablyto hold said arm downward against the upward urge of said. spring.

15. A deadman circuit control unit for toy railroads, comprising incombination, a variable-A voltage'transformer, a case housing saidtrans-- former, binding posts on said case, a secondary winding on saidtransformen a voltage varying take-orf movable in conductive relation toSaid winding connected to furnish relatively low voltage and relativelyhigh voltage to two of said binding posts respectively, a dead-manhandle operatively related to said current take-off comprising an armmovable in selective diiering di,- rections for varying said take-offvoltage and f or displacing said take-oil. from conductive relation tosaid secondary winding. at will, and a turret head mounted to swivel onsaid case. carryingl said arm swingably mounted thereon.

16. A. dead-man circuit control unit for toy railroads, comprising incombination,A a variable.. voltage transformer,y a caseA housing saidtransformer, binding posts on said case, a secondary winding on saidtransformer, a voltage varying take-off movable in conductive relationto said winding connected to furnish relatively low voltage andrelatively high voltage to two of said binding posts respectively, adead-man handle operatively related to said current take-off com,prising an elongate arm, together with structure mounting said armmovably on said case comprising motion transmitting elements assembledto function as a universal joint, whereby said arm can at will be swungsimultaneously in a plurality of planes of movement.

WILLIAM R.. HAURY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 919,998 Zimmer Apr. 27, 1909 1,004,519 Adams Sept. 26, 19112,526,456 Bonanno Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date609,271 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1949,;

